University of Texas regent not worried by impeachment inquiry

Sept. 8, 2013 at 10 p.m.

AUSTIN (AP) - University of Texas regent Wallace Hall says he's the target of a state investigation in part because of his insatiable appetite for reading.

In an interview with The Austin American Statesman published Sunday, Hall of Dallas says he's not losing sleep over a state House committee investigation. He recalled that when he misbehaved in elementary school, he sometimes was sent to a closet where he could read National Geographic magazines.

Now, Hall has now come under scrutiny for reading other kinds of materials. He's mostly being examined for burying the University of Texas' flagship Austin campus with records requests.

Hall said that, as a result of those requests, he often spent up to 40 hours a week of late combing through hundreds of thousands of pages of emails, letters and other documents.

Hall may become the first unelected official in the state's history to be impeached and could even be removed from office - but says: "I believe I'm doing the right thing."

He has used the records to suggest university President Bill Powers lied about when he learned of a $500,000 forgivable loan to then-Dean of Law Larry Sager. Powers denies that.

Hall maintains he's simply carrying out his duty as a regent. He says he wants to get to the bottom of questions involving fundraising, salary supplements and Powers' oversight of these and other matters.

Gene Powell, who was until last month the chairman of the nine-member governing board, has endorsed his efforts - as says Gov. Rick Perry.